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man that shall make an attempt upon their virtue. But where shall such judges, such candidates, and corporations, be found? In what county, city, or corporation, shall we find forty and five such righteous persons?

Were there no more requisite to constitute the character of righteous persons than a love of liberty and of the common-weal, we might conclude we had found more than the number required. The free, disinterested, independent Trinobantes, have set an example to Britons in future generations. Who that love. their country, and value liberty, can mention Middlesex without emotion? Fear nor bribes, flattery nor frowns, could make them sell their privileges. They remained sted fast in spite of every temptation. No influence whatsoever could overcome their love of independency, and their attachment to national freedom. As a testimony of their noble disinterested spirit, they made choice of a man to represent them in the great council of the nation, whose sole recommendation was a disinterested love for his country, and a thorough knowledge of its constitution. Notwithstanding he had been deprived of the natural rights and privileges of his country as a free-born subject, yet he always retained the highest sense of duty to his sovereign, and the greatest veneration for the laws. The Trinobantes avouched his principles, and joined in the common cause of their country with the man who had suffered much for defending the natural rights of his fellow-subjects, when under a heavy sentence, and in no expectation of immediate relief. While others suffered themselves to be bribed out of their consciences and liberties at once by certain demagogues, the noble independent freeholders of the county of Middlesex maintained their liberties, and supported the man whom they believed would support their cause, and that of their country, with the warmest efforts. He had given incontestible proofs of his love of liberty, and his zeal for the civil privileges of his country, by baffling a scene of hardships almost unexperienced by former patriots. Sincerely could I wish that all the rest of the sins of Sodom were as clearly purged away from him as that of bribery and venal corruption. But we must not carry commendation beyond truth, nor extol any man beyond matter of fact; we dare only say that he is politically righteous. This is more than can well be said of the greatest part of the n's rep-s-ta-s. Perhaps we shall not find forty and five of this character among them.

Who can look back on some late elections, and reflect upon the canvassing, bribery, and drunkenness, that were then carried on, without amazement and horror? How many times forty and five drunken persons have we seen revelling day and night through the streets of our cities and large towns in the time of elections, who, having laid aside all business whereby they could support their families, went on in a constant round of sensuality and dissipation? What a fine sight to see kts of the shire, L

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mrs of cs, and js of the qm, all wallowing in the mire of sensuality, like so many swine?-(pardon the expression, ye pillars of the state)-whose gory eyes and vermillion complexion shewed that they had tarried too long at the wine. To behold every hall, room, and corner, in every public house, swimming with liquor, and stagnating with vomit-what a sight! or ra ther, what a smeli!

On one side lies the wig of a candidate, truly oiled with the juice of the grape, and bedaubed with the surcharge of some over-loaded appetite. It was white;-but now they would be wise who could tell what colour it was. of; it is now a wig of many colours, and dressed in a new fashion, a-la-mode de Paris. The owner lies in a corner, and rests supine in the midst of a floating stream of rum and claret-I should have said, belly upwards. His new election suit may well be supposed to be in no very good condition. He snores-At last he awakes-His hat, which I had nigh forgot, is swimming like an oyster boat down a tide of port, loaden with the supper of a j-ce of the p Our new-roused candidate looks for his wig, and finds it in its new dress. His eyes not being clear to view it exactly, he puts it on. He looks for his hat, and finds it. Now we have him in dress. Never did merry-andrew make such a figure. One of the pillars of the state! The hope of a sinking commonwealth! How does he look? Reader, imagine to yourself that you are in Ce or C-h;-there lies the scene of action. Such was nullum tempus. Economy in its highest extent never produced a more ridiculous scene. Righteousness! Righteousness! whither art thou fled? Hast thou, like Astrea, taken wing, and fled to heaven, that we cannot find forty and five righteous persons in a large island. .

That day which all Christians ought to devote to the service of the Almighty, by virtue of an express commandment, in these days of elections, was devoted to canvassing, drunkenness, and corruption. Can they be righteous persons who were thus employed?-who, in opposition to both divine and human laws, prostituted the most sacred appointment? Ah, Britain, a land near to destruction! if mercy and speedy repentance do not prevent it; when thy rulers and principal men cannot serve thy interests without first offending thy God!

Would it not have been better and more righteous to have laid out those large sums, which have been the means of ruining so many morals, and of murdering so many constitutions, for the relief of the poor in these hard and distressing times, than thus lavishly to have spent them to procure the vengeance of heaven? Were there no widows-no fatherless children-uo needy and distressed fellow-subjects, to relieve? Yes, many-too many. How many desolate widows and fatherless children were pining away in poverty and distress in several lonely corners of the town and remote parts of the country, when many forty and five thou

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sand pounds were riotously wasted by the freeholders, candi dates, and electors in Great Britain? It gives me pain to say, what the scripture authorizes me to declare, that England is Sodom's sister. "This was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; pride, and fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hands of the poor and needy."

It was observed, that a righteous man in the character of a judge will not pervert judgment. And it may be added, he will not suffer private resentment to hinder his attachment to truth; but will prefer public justice to private revenge. Forty and five such judges perhaps might save a nation from destruction;-but where shall we find them? Ten would do;-but where shall we even find that number?

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It is often the case, that the issue of a cause depends upon the explication of a single word, by giving it a new meaning. The opinion of a j―e gives sanction to language contrary to common sense. We are certain of the meaning of nothing in our 1-s but as j-s please to let us. The meaning and wording of records depend upon the judgment of ml demagogues. Js. and ls can change the nature of things as they please. Liberty and property are uncertain in their hands. A man's whole fortune and liberty depend upon the meaning of a single word.-I am wrong-the meaning of a single j▬▬e. single je. Our language is good for nothing in determining right; that is the business of js and Is, who generally fix the meaning of words according to their own interest, and settle every vocable in language by the standard of self. But I had need to take care, and not meddle with persons in power. Justice hath no chance with power, nor equity with might. What I was seeking is forty and five righteous persons,-but have not yet come to my reckoning.

Lastly, a righteous man is merciful, like his Father which is in heaven. Cruelty is opposite to the generous temper of his mind; and he will bear with other men's infirmities, as long as they avoid what is immoral. A good man's help is as ready as his compassion, and he will carry it as far as his abilities can reach. "He is merciful, and lends." Religion teacheth all men to be merciful; and our Saviour has set us a glorious example in his own conduct to men. A person of this character is kind to his friends, and gentle even to his enemies. He will not remember injuries, but forgive them. When his enemy is hungry, he will give him meat; when he is thirsty, he will give him drink; and withhold nothing from him that may do him good. When a brother is fallen into decay, and waxen poor, he will endeavour to relieve him. He will not say, Be thou clothed, be thou warmed, be thou fed, and give him nothing; but will minister to his necessities, and speedily assist him. But where shall we find forty and five such righteous persons? Among

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the great? mercy is no article of their creed;-for a conceived point of honour (though false) they will shed one another's blood, and shew mercy with sword and pistol. If, by either a stretch of power or law, they can get hold of their neighbour's inheritance, they will do it, even suppose he should beg.

Cruelty is predominate among all degrees of persons. If misfortunes and a course of adversity strip a brother of his possessions, his nearest friend will crown his distress, and shut him up in gaol to pine away in sorrow, hunger, and grief. Several who are accounted good English believers are not ashamed to pursue their brethren with the utmost rigour of law,-when they have nothing to lay to their charge, but that they are distressed, and that the Almighty hath afflicted them. Even some, who have the assurance to say that the Almighty hath forgiven them their iniquities, will not forgive their brethren a single farthing, but distrain them to the utmost. Is this righteousness? We have not yet found number forty and five.

It is mercy that upholds the throne, and is the chief pillar of all common-weal;-without it men degenerate into the condition of savages and barbarians, and become at last void of all moral principle. Power without mercy is cruelty and oppression;and even laws without it are only the arbitrary dictates of the strong over the weak. Mercy is a conspicuous perfection in the Divine character, and will also appear manifest in the character of every righteous man. This is like the sum of righteousness: no good man can want it, in some degree. Where there is the highest degree of it, there is the most perfect character.

Forty and five merciful men!-it is a pity they should not be found. We have not yet found out that number; and must therefore conclude this discourse.

END OF THE ADDITIONAL SERMON TO ASSES.

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PRINTED BY AND FOR W. HONE, 67, OLD BAILEY, THREE DOORS FROM LUDGATE HILL.

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